Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Sudan: Refugees

Baroness Uddin: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to support refugees fleeing Sudan into neighbouring countries.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: On 4 May, the UK Government announced an initial £5 million allocation to help meet the urgent needs of tens of thousands of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad. This support will benefit the United Nation's Children's Fund, the World Food Programme and non-governmental organisations.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any ban or restriction in law on the commercial sale of seeds or plants, either online or otherwise, from a business in Great Britain to an individual in Northern Ireland who is not designated as a professional operator.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: There is no ban in law specifically concerning the form of commercial sale of plant products from businesses in GB to consumers in NI. Most plants and seeds staying in Northern Ireland will move from Great Britain on a virtually identical basis to those moving elsewhere within the UK. Instead of full EU certification, plants and seeds will move under the framework of the existing UK-wide plant passport scheme, in line with traders throughout the UK, will now move within the same plant passport regime as applies throughout the UK.As we put these arrangements into practice we will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure gardeners, farmers and growers can access plants and seeds from a wide variety of sources.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Baroness Uddin: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to reduce the risk of widening regional conflict emanating from the current situation in Sudan.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The FCDO is monitoring the situation in Sudan closely, including the humanitarian and security impacts of the conflict on Sudan's neighbouring countries. The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues, including engagement with regional counterparts, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union, to end the violence and de-escalate tensions in Sudan, and mitigate the effects of the conflict on the region. On 4 May, the UK Government announced an initial £5 million of life-saving aid to help meet the urgent needs of tens of thousands of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad who have fled the violence in Sudan.

Sudan: British Nationals Abroad

Baroness Uddin: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to communicate with British citizens in Sudan in the absence of internet and power for mobile phones.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The safety of all British nationals in Sudan remains our utmost priority, and the FCDO is working 24/7 to support remaining British nationals. This is a complex and fast-moving situation and there are issues with electricity supply and mobile and wi-fi signal. The FCDO is trying to reach British nationals in any way possible, from Facebook groups to text messages and phone calls. Information on communication flights has been clearly communicated through the media and reported on channels such as the BBC World Service. British nationals should check the latest Travel Advice. As of 2 May the UK has facilitated the departure of over 2300 passengers, of which over half were British nationals.

Darfur: Violence

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report and recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sudan and South SudanGenocide: All Over Again in Darfur?, published on 26 April; and whether they will publish a response to those findings and recommendations.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Minister for Africa [Andrew Mitchell] met the All-Party Parliamentary Group on 26 April to discuss the report's recommendations. The UK has consistently urged the Sudanese authorities to deliver on their obligation to protect civilians and to ensure implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement, to help address the violence and instability in Darfur. The recent violent conflict across Sudan is very concerning. The UK's humanitarian priority is to secure operational security guarantees and humanitarian access. When conditions allow, the UK will lead international efforts to rebuild the Sudanese economy and mitigate the humanitarian impact across the country, including in Darfur.

Tunisia: Human Rights

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the human rights violations in Tunisia; what representations they have made to the government of the Republic of Tunisia about the detention of political prisoners, including the former Speaker, Rached Ghannouchi; whetherthey plan to take action against any individuals involved in these violations and, specifically, to enact targeted sanctions against Kais Saied (President of the Republic), Leila Jaffel (Minister of Justice), Imed Memmich (Minister of Defence), Kamel Feki (Minister of the Interior) and former ministers, Taoufik Charfeddine and Ridha Gharsallaoui, as requested byTunisia’s democratic opposition.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: On 18 April, the Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia are eroding the space for political plurality, and urged the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society. Lord Ahmad also raised our issues over the arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, as did His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. The UK believes in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia, and we will continue to raise these important issues with the Tunisian authorities at every available opportunity. Imposing sanctions is one response among other diplomatic tools and we will continue to consider a range of approaches to tackle human rights issues. The UK Government does not speculate on future designations. We continue to monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely.

Department of Health and Social Care

Fibromyalgia: Research

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current state ofresearch into Fibromyalgia.

Lord Markham: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Since 2021, the NIHR has funded two specific research studies into fibromyalgia, with a total value of over £400,000. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including fibromyalgia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The Government recognises that chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, can be incredibly disabling and have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life. We know how important it is that people with fibromyalgia get the support they need from health and care services. To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of chronic pain conditions, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published evidence-based guidance in April 2021, a copy of which is attached. NICE guidelines represent best practice and health professionals, including general practitioners, are expected to take them fully into account. It should be noted, however, that the guidelines are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients. The chronic pain guidance includes recommendations on providing advice and information relevant to the individual and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management options. To assist with increasing the visibility of fibromyalgia and the impacts of its symptoms, NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters and other media.NICE chronic pain guideline (pdf, 264.4KB)

Medical Records: Children

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of anyadverse effects on children as a result of not establishing a consistent child identifier, especially those children with (1) complex needs and disabilities, (2) long-term conditions such as asthma, autism and epilepsy and (3) looked after children and those at risk; and whether they will publish such an assessment.

Lord Markham: No specific assessment has been made. Every child is assigned an National Health Service number at birth or the first time they have contact with NHS services. The NHS number acts as is a unique patient identifier and is used to share information within electronic healthcare records. This contributes to improved health outcomes for children, including looked after children and those with complex needs, disabilities and long-term conditions, by ensuring that health professionals identify patients correctly and have access to information to inform the delivery of appropriate care.Through the Health and Care Act 2022, the Government has committed to report on Government’s policy on information sharing in relation to the safeguarding of children, including looked after children and those at risk, by summer 2023. The report will include an explanation of whether it is the Government’s policy that a consistent child identifier should be used across agencies.

Medical Records: Children

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe adverse (1) costs, and (2) effectiveness, of NHS services for children as a result of the absence of a consistent child identifier.

Lord Markham: No specific assessment has been made. Every child is assigned a National Health Service number at birth or the first time they have contact with NHS services. The NHS number acts as a unique patient identifier and is used to share information within electronic healthcare records. This contributes to improved health outcomes for children by ensuring that health professionals identify patients correctly and have access to information to inform the delivery of appropriate care.

Treasury

Capital Gains Tax

Lord Leigh of Hurley: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) cost, or (2) gain, to the Treasury of the removal of carried interest relief from capital gains tax.

Lord Leigh of Hurley: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential (1) gain, or (2) loss, to the Treasury of equating capital gains and income tax votes.

Baroness Penn: Sums arising which meet the definition of carried interest are properly assessed as chargeable gains subject to capital gains tax (CGT) of 18 per cent or 28 per cent for higher rate taxpayers. In some circumstances, it is possible for sums meeting the definition of carried interest to be subject to income tax and additionally, capital gains tax. Here, double taxation would be a disproportionate outcome so relief is provided from this higher rate CGT charge to reduce the effective taxation, but only down to the higher of the two rates.No assessment has been made of the cost of relieving these instances of double taxation. In 2020, the then Chancellor commissioned the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) to carry out a review of Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The OTS provided a costing on aligning CGT rates with those of Income Tax. Please see Paragraph 2.19 of the attached publication.Capital Gains Tax stage 1 report - Nov 2020 (pdf, 3588.1KB)

Duty Free Allowances: Northern Ireland

Lord Rogan: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Penn on 12 April (HL7072), what discussions they plan to have with the European Commission to enable residents of Northern Ireland to buy duty free products when travelling from Northern Ireland to the EU.

Baroness Penn: The Government’s duty-free policy remains unchanged after the agreement of the Windsor Framework. Northern Ireland enjoys frictionless trade with both the rest of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – the Government is committed to ensuring that remains the case.  Enabling duty-free shopping between Ireland and Northern Ireland could lead to significant distortions of trade on the island of Ireland as well as a significant revenue loss for both UK and Ireland by creating a legal route for unlimited amounts of alcohol and tobacco to flow into the UK and EU markets duty-free.  The Government therefore has no plans to raise this matter with the European Commission.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Private Rented Housing

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of reports that rent-to-rent schemes are allowing some landlords to evade prosecution and laws intended to protect renters; and what steps they are taking in response.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: We are aware of concerns that some 'rent to rent' arrangements have been used in some cases to make it more difficult to identify landlords and hold them to account. We are determined to crack down on illegal practices in rent to rent schemes.We have given local authorities strong powers to uphold standards and to impose severe penalties on landlords who deliberately rent out substandard or unsafe accommodation, including civil penalties of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution. We are also exploring how we can strengthen local authorities' investigative and enforcement powers, as part of our forthcoming reforms of the private rented sector. This will help councils to identify culpable landlords and ensure that they can be punished through prosecutions, fines, rent repayment orders and potential banning orders.In addition, we will introduce a new Property Portal for private rented homes through new legislation. It will be mandatory for landlords to register their properties on the portal: this new resource will help local authorities to identify landlords more quickly and easily, improving the effectiveness of enforcement.We will continue to review the operation of arrangements such as rent to rent to ensure that tenants are adequately protected and have access to redress when things go wrong.

Polling Stations: Protective Clothing

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthey will challenge the ruling of the Electoral Commission on the compulsory removal of face masks at polling stations to carry out identity checks; and whether they will seek an exemption for disabled or immunocompromised people who are vulnerable to COVID 19, or allow for the removal of masksto be supervised outside the polling station to reduce the risk of infection.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Electors will need to remove face masks in order for their identity to be checked at a polling station.It is for Returning Officers and Presiding Officers to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place for checking the identity of disabled and immunocompromised people who are vulnerable to COVID 19. This may include checking identification outside the polling place where appropriate.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Renewable Energy: Seas and Oceans

Baroness Whitaker: To ask His Majesty's Government on what timescales they expect a marine renewable consent can be achieved; and what specific steps they are taking to support a proportionate, streamlined and bespoke consenting process for marine renewables to accelerate the development and deployment of marine renewables within UK waters.

Lord Callanan: In February 2023 the Government published an Action Plan to deliver reforms to improve the planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, which the Government is implementing. Five revised energy National Policy Statements, published in March 2023, are out for consultation. Consenting time is around 20 months, although this varies depending on the specific circumstances. In the Action Plan, the Government outlined its intention to establish a fast-track consenting timeframe, which will be available for certain projects, where defined quality standards are met. Proposals for fast-track consenting, including for marine renewables, will be consulted on in spring 2023.

Coal: Railways

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Callanan, on 17 April (HL Deb, col 518), what are the “existing licensing arrangements” in relation to the domestic demand for coal in heritage railways.

Lord Callanan: The Coal Authority is the licensor for coal extraction in the UK. Businesses seeking to develop a coal operation require a coal exploration licence from the Coal Authority, as well as planning permission and other consents, before a mine can become operational. Potential coal extraction projects seeking to supply industries such as heritage rail would need to satisfy the ‘tests’ to issuing a licence under the 1994 Coal Industry Act. These include financial viability, practical experience, and relevant permissions (such as planning).

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Arts Festivals: Cost of Living

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of impact of the increased cost of living on arts and music festivals in the UK in 2023.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Festivals are a vital part of the British cultural landscape, with the sector delivering highly valued cultural and economic activity across the UK. The UK’s festival sector is a world leader with festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading, and the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts all globally renowned.We recognise that there are issues facing the festival sector, in common with other sectors, as a result of rising inflation and energy prices. We work closely with the sector and across Government to improve its economic resilience, as we did through the pandemic, and with the recent £18 billion Energy Bills Support Scheme.We are pleased that the sector has reported a huge increase in availability and uptake of payment plans to festivals, with audiences able to pay by instalments each month. Festivals have also increased the number of months over which payment plans operate, helping to stretch out and reduce monthly amounts in order to maximise uptake.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to engage regularly with representatives of the live music sector, including organisations representing festivals, to understand the impact of the rising cost of living and other pressures. In March, for example, the Secretary of State held a round-table meeting with representatives from across the live music sector to hear their concerns directly, to inform the Department's future work.

Casement Park: Regeneration

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to set out the source of funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast which was included as one of 14 stadiums in the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The joint UK and Republic of Ireland bid to host EURO 2028 was submitted to UEFA on 12 April 2023. The bid proposes 10 stadia, with the inclusion of Casement Park in Belfast enabling Northern Ireland to be a prospective host for the tournament, so that local communities can benefit from the considerable socio-economic benefits of hosting an event of this scale.There has been a longstanding commitment in Northern Ireland as part of the regional stadium development programme to redevelop Casement Park – alongside the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park and Kingspan Stadium, which have already undergone improvements. Given the inclusion of Casement Park in the bid, HM Government is working closely with partners in Northern Ireland to ensure the redevelopment is adequately funded, delivered in good time, and complies sufficiently with UEFA’s technical requirements.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Batteries: Fires

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Benyon on 24 April (HL7121),what assessmentthey have made of the emission of (1) greenhouse gasses, and (2) other pollutants, as a result of fires and explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries.

Lord Benyon: The Environment Agency regulates larger industrial installations in England and are not aware of any assessment being made of the emissions from fires of caused by lithium-ion batteries for their regulatory, permitting or incident functions. Currently, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are not considered an ‘Installation’ under the ‘Regulatory Guidance Note No. 2 Understanding the meaning of regulated facility’. Therefore, BESS do not require a permit, Risk Management Strategy, or Plan. The Environment Agency is in discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the issue.